 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||
 |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
||||
|
||||
Eskis score double digits vs. IslandersPosted By THE DAILY PRESSThree out of four isn't bad. The Abitibi Eskimos completed a long week by winning the final leg of its road trip 10-4 against the Manitoulin Islanders in Wikwemikong on Sunday afternoon. The Eskis played four road games in five nights, winning three of them. "We knew we had our hands full," Eskis head coach Paul Gagne said. "If we're going to evaluate our team, I think it was a successful road trip ... A-plus." At one point in the game against the Islanders, the Eskis scored five-straight goals, four of which came in the second period. "The second period came around and it was one big wake-up call," Gagne said. "We really put on a little (scoring) seminar. We worked hard and persevered to overcome fatigue. "We had a big second period and that's where we won the game." After ending the first frame ahead 2-1, Matt St. Jacques, Jean-Bernard Gagnon, Ryan MacDonald and Brent Wesley scored in succession to open up the second period. Ahead 6-1, Abitibi then gave up a power-play goal with 16 seconds left in the frame to Dustin Grant. Gagnon ended the game with a hat trick, tallying a goal in each period. The Eskis seven other goals were all scored by different players, including Michael Robert, Jessie Howg, Nick Beaudoin and Josh Clancy. "You're spreading the wealth there with different players scoring and it's important to get that offence going," Gagne said. Aside from ending the road trip with a victory, Gagne added the team gained something in the form of a closer bond. Having spent so much time together in the last week, was good morale, he said. After taking part in the NOJHL Showcase Tournament, beating the Soo Eagles 3-2 on Friday night and then losing 3-2 to the Soo Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon, the Eskis had the opportunity to take in an OHL game between the Soo Greyhounds and the Kitchener Rangers. During the game, the Iroquois Falls team cheered on Greyhounds goalie, and Nellie Lake native, Cody St. Jacques. The Eskis' first game of the week was played on Wednesday night in Sudbury. They won the game 5-2. On Saturday night, Abitibi also bolstered its lineup by acquiring Alex Fiset from the Lindsay Muskies of the Ontario Junior Hockey League just before the trade deadline. Fiset is an 18-year-old forward who is originally from Kenogami. He had 35 points in 36 games with the Muskies this season and is expected to play next Saturday against the Wolves. "He's going to help out offensively," Gagne said. "We have a lot of tight games ... I'm hoping to alleviate a little of the defensive pressure. When you don't score as many goals, there's more pressure on the defence and goalie, so hopefully this will help out." Eskis down WolvesPosted By THE DAILY PRESSThe Abitibi Eskimos were quick out the gate, scoring three first-period goals en route to beating the Sudbury Junior Wolves 5-3 in Sudbury on Wednesday night. The Eskis tacked on one more goal in the second to go up 4-0 before the Wolves got off the schneid. "The first couple of periods we played some really good hockey," said Eskis head coach Paul Gagne. "We worked hard, played good defence and we were compensated by scoring goals." Dustin Roy notched a pair of goals before the first intermission, while Nick Beaudoin, Jessie Howg and Felix Boutin rounded out the scoring for Abitibi. The fast start was a result of a strong practice the night before, Gagne said. "The game didn't start tonight when they dropped the puck, it started yesterday," he said. "They were focused and that carried over. They were ready before the game and you can see it in their eyes. They were ready for meeting at 6:30 and they were mentally prepared. "When you get a jump-start like that, you can definitely win a game in the first period." Francis Albert got the start in goal for the Eskis, playing for the first time since Dec. 17. He made 27 saves in picking up his first win since Dec. 10. "Albert had a superb game," Gagne said. "He was seeing the puck tonight and he really did play well." Gagne was also quick to point out an unsung hero -- defenceman Mario Lavigne. "He had a lot of ice time and kudos goes to him," Gagne said. "He really played well and it's nice to see because he's one of the players that doesn't play too often, but tonight he made a big difference." Gagne added Lavigne was "flawless" in advancing the puck, playing turnover-free hockey and providing leadership. Tyler Arps helped Sudbury break the shutout with more than a minute remaining in the second period. Chris Pontes and Erik Belanger scored in the third for the Wolves, but they failed to shrink the lead to one. The Eskis, winners of four straight, will be back in action on Friday night against the Soo Eagles as part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League's Showcase Tournament. The start time for the game is 9:30 p. m. On Saturday the Eskis will play the Soo Thunderbirds, and on Sunday they will visit the Manitoulin Islanders. |
||||
